Should you sweat the small stuff?
 

So while my world continues to crumble around me I found myself with the dust pan and brush on the floor sweeping up crumbs left by my two daughters.

Should I worry about crumbs or unwashed dishes, ie the small stuff?

Never.

We recently bought a used car for our kid, and it seems to be having problems. Need to bring it into the shop. Not a big deal, disappointing, but I'm not going to sweat it.

Two schools of thought here. One being, if you sweat the small stuff, you don't have to worry about the big stuff later. Others think if you concentrate on the big stuff, and ignore the small stuff, the small stuff will eventually work itself out.

I'm in the school of thought that if you manage the small, then you don't have to worry about the big. Your situation for example. That shows a small level of irresponsible behavior on the part of your children. If you clean it for them, then they'll assume it's accepted behavior, and continue to do it. The next time they'll make a bigger mess, and you'll clean that up. Eventually all the small stuff you should have sweated, is one massive mess. Irresponsible children feel it's other people's jobs to clean up after their messes, and that doesn't just go away. That breeds into them a lack of accountability, and responsibility. I know that's a bit extreme, and I'm not insinuating you have bad children. I'm simply pointing out how It's a very slippery slope.

It's just like the guy who concentrates on the big project and let's all the smaller projects build up. Eventually he'll have a shitload of small problems to deal with. Small things grow into big things. The object is to handle them when they're small and relatively easy to handle.

If my daughters did that, I would force them to stop what they're doing, and make them clean up after themselves. I wouldn't clean up because that not acceptable behavior, and there are repercussions to their actions. I won't condone irresponsible actions, and then reward them by cleaning it up. It also helps them become independent, not always having to rely on dad to clean up their messes. Now or as young adults, into full adulthood.

Sorry for rambling on, I've read wayyyyy too many parenting books.

Never sweat the small stuff. Look ahead, work hard, play harder - enjoy life. Cheers!

I pet the sweaty stuff?

Please seE:1orglaughmy other post you self loathing sunof abitch!

never sweat the little stuff. I remember days 20 years ago when I worked 7 days a week and many 12 hour days at a factory job. I didn't work all the overtime cause I was broke but I worked it cause it was available and I liked the toys I could buy with the extra money. But there was a time when I was working so hard that I didn't have time to keep up with dishes or laundry. Rather then sweat about it I just bought all new dishes and another weeks worth of clothes.

Rinse and repeat, sage advice!

Actually it is YOU I loath. :1orglaugh

great post don't sweat nothing

Little saying a friend told me long ago is a good way to live.

Dont sweat the petty stuff, Pet the sweaty stuff.

never .

And today I pondered on how to reply?, then smiled,...... you are still my sunshine!:winkwink:

Always ...

What an interesting topic. I agree with Rob, but again, it depends what 'small stuff' is since it can mean many things. It also depends on many other factors. If the small stuff is actually really tiny and irrelevant, then sure, don't sweat it. Cheers!

Why is your world crumbling around you?

As far as sweeping up crumbs, well, ya know that is just part of life.

There are just the 2 rules:

1. Don't sweat the small shit.

2. It is all small shit.

That does not mean don't take care of business. It means don't get stressed out about it. Stressing about stuff does nothing towards getting anything done. So, relax and get done what you can get done. Noone can ask anything more than that.

.